Jamie Carragher warns England fans over ‘unrealistic’ Kobbie Mainoo expectations | Football

England have qualified for the knockout stage as Group C winners but only after another lacklustre performance in the goalless draw with Slovenia on Tuesday night.

Despite fierce criticism, Gareth Southgate would make just one change to his starting XI for the match – replacing Trent Alexander-Arnold with Conor Gallagher.

While dropping the Liverpool star after his failed experiment to convert from right-back to midfielder was welcomed, there was apprehension over whether Chelsea’s Gallagher would bring much-needed stability and control to the Three Lions’ game.

The answer to that was a resounding no, with the 24-year-old hauled off at half-time and replaced by Mainoo, who put in a brilliant shift, winning 100 per cent of his tackles and completing all but one of his 34 passes.

Naturally, there is a great clamour for the 19-year-old to partner Declan Rice for the last-16 game on Sunday, but Carragher warns that while talented, the Manchester United starlet isn’t the quick fix supporters think he is.

‘When I hear fans or fellow pundits demanding more control in midfield, or observations that England need a Toni Kroos or Luka Modric profile of footballer, my immediate response is: Who do you mean?’ the former Liverpool and England star wrote for The Telegraph.

‘That is why Southgate went with the Alexander-Arnold experiment in the first place. Now we are hoping youngsters such as Kobbie Mainoo and Adam Wharton will instantly emerge and transform the make-up of the side.

‘Mainoo did well when he came on and should keep his place, but expecting him to dictate massive international games after barely half a season of Premier League football is unrealistic.’

Though young and inexperienced, Mainoo has shown the energy, tenacity and tactical acumen needed to play at the highest level for club and country, and despite the understandable reservations, Carragher believes he should start the last-16 clash in one of three changes.

‘England need a radical solution, and that means leaving out big names because others deserve their chance to shine,’ he added.

‘The obvious inclusions for the round of 16 are Mainoo, Cole Palmer and Anthony Gordon. Like Mainoo, Palmer impressed as substitute against Slovenia, and the team are more balanced with Gordon’s pace.’

But Southgate remained coy on what, if any, changes would be made, saying in his post-match press conference: ‘I think with him [Palmer] and Kobbie we had in our mind to get them into the game tonight, they offer something different.

‘We wanted to start with Conor, we felt it helped us to press better and we haven’t been winning the ball high enough up the pitch. The part of his game we weren’t able to get were his forward runs that can exploit opposition defences, so he was ending up receiving a bit deeper.

‘Therefore it was logical to bring Kobbie into the game who has different attributes to be able to connect the game through midfield, so very pleased with that. In the end, we almost had a goal where [Anthony] Gordon, Mainoo and Palmer connect and it was a super piece of play.

‘It’s so important that the players who come in realise they’re going to get opportunities if they keep training the way they’re training, they’re supporting the team brilliantly.

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